Appendix:Australian English colloquial proper nouns

The shortening the names of places, people, companies, etc. is a common feature of Australian English vocabulary. This is often done through the use of diminutives. The given names Darren and Sharon, for example are shortened to Dazza and Shazza respectively. The Western Australian Cricket Association and the Perth cricket ground becomes WACA (pronounced /wæk.ə/), McDonald's restaurant becomes Macca's (pronounced /ˈmæk.əz/) and Woolies (as in "I'm just going to pick up some milk from Woolies") is the affectionate term given to the chain of Woolworths supermarkets.

General

• ambos - paramedics (from "ambulance")
• arvo/arvie - afternoon
• bottle-o - bottle-shop, liquor store
• Ekka - the Brisbane Exhibition, an annual show
• rego - (vehicle) registration (fee)
• servo - service station
• Vee Dub - Volkswagen
• Vinnie's - St. Vincent De Paul's (charity thrift stores and hostels)
• Winnies - Winfield Cigarettes
• Woolies - Woolworth's Supermarkets

Nationalities

• Aussie - Australian
• Kiwi - New Zealander
• Saffa - South African
• Yank - American
• Pom or Pome - English

Alcohol/Tobacco

• Dunnie - Dunhill Cigarettes
• TED - Tooheys Extra Dry, beer
• Vomit Beer - Victoria Bitter, beer; a play on the acronym "VB" due to its strong taste.
• Paley and Sparkles for Coopers Pale Ale and Cooper Sparkling beer; typically restricted to South Australia
• Winnie - Winfield Cigarettes

Shortened band names

Australian youths and general Australian music fans have a long tradition of shortening popular band names.

• Acca Dacca - AC/DC
• The Finger - Powderfinger
• The Oils (or just Oils) - Midnight Oil
• Chisels - Cold Chisel
• The Chair - Silverchair
• The Crowdies - Crowded House
• Barnesey - Jimmy Barnes
• Farnesy - John Farnham
• The Gurge - Regurgitator
• Foxy - Robin Fox
• The Puppies - Sick Puppies
• Grinners or The Spoon - Grinspoon
• The Mentals - Mental As Anything
• Hunters or Hunnas - Hunters & Collectors
• The Gurus - Hoodoo Gurus
• The Singing Budgie - Kylie Minogue
• SFK - Something For Kate
• The Homos - The Homicides
• True Rad - True Radical Miracle
• The Bait - Spiderbait
• Jebs - Jebediah
• Eskies - Eskimo Joe
• JBT - John Butler Trio
• The Gunners - Guns N' Roses
• The Weddos - Weddings Parties Anything

State names for people

The colloquial name associated to people born and raised in that state.

• Northen Territory - Territorians, Dust-eaters
• NSW - Cockroaches
• Queensland - Cane Toads, Banana Benders
• South Australia - Crow Eaters
• Tasmania - Taswegians, people from Tassie, Gumsuckers
• Victoria - Vics, Mexicans, Victorians, Cabbage Patchers
• Western Australia - Sand Gropers, people from West Oz

Place names

As with other proper nouns, place names are commonly shortened through the use of diminutives. Australia is, itself, often shortened to Oz, or alternately, Straya (see also Aussie).

In some cases, colloquialisms have developed in reference to certain characteristics of the area. Australia is often referred to as Down Under because of its geographical location on a globe; this term (which can also include New Zealand) was popularized by the song Down Under, by Australian band Men at Work.

• Australia's Little Brother - New Zealand
• Balga North - Clarkson, Western Australia (derogatory) - refers to both Balga's down-market reputation and Clarkson's outer northern location.
• Barker - Mount Barker, Western Australia
• Basso w:Bassendean, Western Australia
• Baulko – Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, also refers to Baulkham Hills High School
• Baysie Bayswater, Victoria
• Bello - Bellingen, New South Wales
• Belly South - Belgrave South, Victoria
• Benders or The 'Go - Bendigo, Victoria
• The Berra - Canberra
• Bevo - Beverly Hills, New South Wales
• Belco - Belconnen, Australian Capital Territory, usually in reference to Westfield Belconnen
• Bilo - Biloela, Queensland
• Blacky - Blackburn, Victoria, in particular Blackburn High School; and can also be "Blacky Maccas" referring to the McDonalds restaurant on Blackburn Road
• Bok Choy - Box Hill, Victoria.
• Boot Hill - Box Hill, Victoria. Generally used by the Victorian Ambulance Service to refer to Box Hill Hospital.
• Broady - Broadmeadows, Victoria
• Bundo - Bundeena, New South Wales
• Bundy – Bundaberg, Queensland, also refers to Bundaberg Rum
• Bunno - Bunbury, Western Australia
• Burra - Korumburra, Victoria
• Burwog - Burwood, New South Wales
• Busso - Busselton, Western Australia
• Brissie, Brissy or Brizzie – Brisbane, Queensland
• Brisvegas – Brisbane, Queensland, in reference to Las Vegas, Nevada
• Brisneyland - Brisbane, Queensland, in reference to Disneyland
• Brisangeles - Brisbane, Queensland, in reference to Los Angeles referring to the large scale linear development
• Broady - Broadmeadows, Victoria
• Brookie - Brookvale, New South Wales
• Brunny - Brunswick, Victoria
• Byron – Byron Bay, New South Wales
• Cabra or Cab or Stabramatta or Vietnamatta – Cabramatta, New South Wales, in reference to the high Vietnamese-immigrant population
• Campo – Camperdown, New South Wales
• Carlo – Carlingford, New South Wales
• Chaddy - Chadstone, Victoria, usually in reference to Chadstone Shopping Centre
• Chatty, Chatswong - Chatswood, New South Wales
• Chaps - Chapel Street, Melbourne
• Charlie - Charlestown, New South Wales, specifically Charlestown Square Shopping Complex
• Charny - Charnwood, Australian Capital Territory
• Cheso or Chezzo - Chester Hill, New South Wales
• Chezza or The Brook or Chinabrook or Chellyblook - Cherrybrook, New South Wales
• Chiggers - Chigwell, Tasmania
• Chingvale Road - Springvale Road
• Clownsville - Townsville, Queensland
• Coffs – Coffs Harbour, New South Wales
• Coolies - Coolbellup or Cooloongup, two suburbs of Perth, Western Australia
• Cranny - Cranbourne, Victoria
• Crowie – Crows Nest, New South Wales, also refers to Crows Nest TAFE and the Crows Nest Hotel
• Croyds - Croydon, Victoria
• Curly - Curl Curl, New South Wales
• Cuntamulla - Cunnamulla, Queensland
• Dandy – Dandenong, Victoria
• Darlo – Darlinghurst, New South Wales
• Denny - Deniliquin, New South Wales
• Diamo - Diamond Creek, Victoria
• Dim - Dimboola, Victoria
• Donny - Doncaster, Victoria or Donvale, Victoria
• Double Pay - Double Bay, New South Wales, Due to it being a wealthier area.
• Doodli - Doodlakine, Western Australia
• Doony - Doonside, New South Wales
• Drewy - Mount Druitt, New South Wales
• Drysie - Drysdale, Victoria
• Dubs or Dubsville or Dubsvegas - Dubbo, New South Wales
• Dumphampton - Rockhampton, Queensland
• DY - Dee Why, New South Wales
• Dykeheart - Leichhardt, New South Wales - due to its high lesbian population
• E-Town - Eltham, Victoria
• Elstiwood - The neighboring suburbs of Elsternwick, Victoria and Elwood, Victoria
• Erko - Erskineville, New South Wales
• Ermo - Ermington, New South Wales
• (The)Flats - semi-derogatory term used by those who live in the Perth Hills suburbs to refer to suburbs situated on the Coastal Plain
• Franga, Funky Town, Frankghanistan - Frankston, Victoria
• Fredo - Frederickton, New South Wales
• Freo - Fremantle, Western Australia
• G Town – Geelong, Victoria
• Garbo - Garden City Shopping Centre, Queensland
• (The) Gatha - Leongatha, Victoria
• Gayswater w:Bayswater, Western Australia
• Gem town - Gembrook, Victoria
• Gerro - Geraldton, Western Australia
• Girra – Girraween, New South Wales, also refers to Girraween High School and Girraween National Park
• Gladdy or Gladdie - Gladstone, Queensland
• Glenny - Glen Waverley, Victoria.
• God's Country - Sutherland Shire, New South Wales
• Goldy or GC - Gold Coast, Queensland
• The Gong - Wollongong, New South Wales
• Greensy - Greensborough, Victoria
• (The) Grove - Ocean Grove, Victoria
• Gundy - Goondiwindi, Queensland
• Hammie Hill - Hamilton Hill, Western Australia
• Happyrock - Gladstone, Queensland, a play on the name.
• Henry's High - Henry Lawson High School, Grenfell - the birthplace of Henry Lawson
• Hole of Australia, The - Australian Capital Territory, also Canberra
• HP - Hampton Park, Victoria
• Inceston - Launceston, Tasmania
• Indro – Indooroopilly, Queensland
• Ipshit - Ipswich, Queensland
• K-Town or Knx - Kununurra, Western Australia, the latter from the town airport's IATA code
• Kal - Kalgoorlie, Western Australia
• Kella - Kellerberrin, Western Australia
• Kelmy - Kelmscott, Western Australia
• Knifepoint – Highpoint shopping centre, Melbourne
• Lavo - Laverton, Victoria
• Lisless - Lismore, New South Wales
• Livo - Liverpool, New South Wales
• Langy Langwarrin or Lang Lang, Victoria
• Lonnie - Launceston, Tasmania, also used for Point Lonsdale, Victoria
• Mainland, or the mainland - continental w:Australia from the perspective of Tasmanians
• Maggie - Magnetic Island, Queensland
• Manjie - Manjimup, Western Australia
• Margs - Margaret River, Western Australia
• Maroochy - Maroochydore, Queensland
• Matto - Matraville, New South Wales
• Mc Mansion Land - Castle Hill, Sydney; used by people from other (poorer) suburbs
• Meeka - Meekatharra
• Melbs or Melbo - Melbourne, Victoria (only by non-residents, usually from surrounding towns)
• Mido - Midland, Western Australia
• Moe by the Sea - Dromana, Victoria
• Mo-town - Moe, Victoria
• Morribong - the area of Morrisett, New South Wales and Cooranbong, New South Wales
• Mona - Mona Vale, New South Wales
• Monty - Montmorency, Victoria
• Moozza B - Mooroolbark, Victoria
• Morty - Mortdale, New South Wales
• Mozzie Park Mosman Park Western Australia {Now a fashionable suburb, once working class. Present pronunciation is Mossman, as opposed to former Mozzman}
• Mt. D - Mt. Dandenong, Victoria
• Muka - Mukinbudin, Western Australia
• Mundas- Mundaring, Western Australia
• Narra - Narrabeen, New South Wales
• Nazza Wazza - Narre Warren, Victoria
• Newie - Newcastle, New South Wales
• No-hope - Wauchope, New South Wales (a play on the name, which is pronounced "war-hope")
• Normo - Normanhurst, New South Wales, also refers to Normanhurst Boys High School
• North (The) - The North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales
• North Island - derogatory name for mainland Australia used in Tasmania
• Northies - Northland, Victoria, in particular referring to Northland shopping centre
• Nulla - Cronulla, New South Wales
• Nuna - Nunawading, Victoria
• Nuri - Nuriootpa, South Australia
• Ossie Park - Osborne Park, Western Australia (pronounced "ozzie")
• Paddo – Paddington, New South Wales; also refers to Paddington, Queensland, or the hotel there
• Pakky - Pakenham, Victoria
• Pally - Pallamallawa, New South Wales
• Palmy – Palm Beach, New South Wales
• Palmy or Palmo - Palmerston, Northern Territory
• Parra – Parramatta, New South Wales, also refers to Parramatta Eels Rugby League Club
• Patto River - Patterson River, w:Victoria. Also Patto Lakes.
• Peaky - Peakhurst, New South Wales
• Penno – Pennant Hills, New South Wales
• Penny – Penrith, New South Wales
• Penriff - Penrith, New South Wales
• Peppy Grove - Peppermint Grove, Western Australia
• Port - Port Macquarie, New South Wales, also Port Adelaide, South Australia and Portarlington, Victoria
• Prinny Hill – Princes Hill, Victoria, also refers to Princes Hill Secondary College
• Quay, The - Circular Quay, New South Wales
• Queenie - Queenstown
• Reddy - Redcliffe, Queensland
• Rego - Regents Park, New South Wales
• Rivo - Riverstone, New South Wales
• Rocko - Rockingham, Western Australia or Rockdale, New South Wales
• Rocky - Rockhampton, Queensland
• Rotto - Rottnest Island, Western Australia
• Roxy - Roxburgh Park, Victoria
• Sandy - Sandringham, Victoria
• Scabs - w:Scarborough, Western Australia
• Schoey - Schofields, New South Wales
• Scumshine - Sunshine, Victoria
• Seafood - Seaford, Victoria
• Sevo - Seven Hills, New South Wales
• Shepp - Shepparton, Victoria
• Shoppo - Westfield Shoppingtown, Doncaster, Victoria
• Sin City - Sydney, New South Wales
• Slumshine - Sunshine, Victoria
• Slurry - Surry Hills, New South Wales
• Smellarat - Ballarat, Victoria.
• Snives - St Ives, New South Wales
• Sold Coast - Gold Coast, Queensland
• Spewcastle - Newcastle, New South Wales
• Spewtown - Newtown, New South Wales
• Springers - Springwood, New South Wales
• Springy – Springvale, Victoria
• St Africa – St Ives, New South Wales, from the large population of emigrants from South Africa
• Steel City - Broken Hill, New South Wales
• Steel Cock - Iron Knob, South Australia
• Straddie - Stradbroke Island, Queensland
• Strattie - Strathfield, New South Wales
• Subi - Subiaco, Western Australia
• Sunny Coast - Sunshine Coast, Queensland
• Sunshine Hoax - Sunshine Coast, Queensland
• Surfers - Surfers Paradise, Queensland
• Sutho- Sutherland, New South Wales
• Swampea- Swansea, New South Wales
• T-Bar- Toowoomba Queensland
• T'Gon – Traralgon, Victoria
• Tammy or The Worth - Tamworth, New South Wales
• Tempy - Templestowe, Victoria
• Tassie - Tasmania
• The Alice - Alice Springs, Northern Territory
• The Bark - Mooroolbark, Victoria or Mount Barker, Western Australia
• The Bool - Warrnambool, Victoria,(Also Warny)
• The Borough - Port Melbourne, Victoria, in particular their VFL football team
• The Bra - Maroubra, New South Wales
• The Coathanger - Sydney Harbour Bridge
• The Cunt - Cunnamulla, Queensland
• The Curry - Cloncurry, Queensland
• The Cross – Kings Cross, New South Wales
• The Dome - Telstra Dome, Melbourne, Victoria
• The G - The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)
• The G Hole - Geelong, Victoria
• The Gabba - Woolloongabba, Queensland, also refers to the cricket stadium in the suburb.
• The Go - Bendigo, Victoria
• The Gong – Wollongong, New South Wales
• The Gool - Warragul, Victoria
• The Gully - Ferntree Gully, Victoria
• The Isa - Mount Isa, Queensland
• The Ky - Kyabram, Victoria
• The Loo - Woolloomooloo, New South Wales or Innaloo, Western Australia
• The Lucky Country - Australia
• The Mount - Mount Gambier, South Australia
• The Mud - Coochimudlo Island, off the coast of Queensland
• The Park - Waverley Park, Victoria, former AFL venue
• The Prom - Wilsons Promontory
• The Range - Orange, New South Wales
• The Rat - Ballarat, Victoria
• The Riff – Penrith, New South Wales
• The Roy – Collaroy, New South Wales
• The 'Scray - Footscray, Victoria
• The 'Sham - Petersham and Lewisham, New South Wales
• The Shire - Sutherland Shire, New South Wales
• The 'Switch - Ipswich, Queensland
• The Thag – Wonthaggi, Victoria
• The Valley – Fortitude Valley, Queensland, also refers to the Latrobe Valley, Victoria and Helena Valley, Western Australia
• The Womb- Toowoomba Queensland
• Tight Ways (The) - Inner City of Sydney, New South Wales, Named due to the narrow streets within the surrounding suburbs of the CBD.
• Thommo - Thomastown, Victoria
• Toke - Tocumwal, New South Wales
• Toony - Toongabbie, New South Wales; alternatively redendered Toonie as in some registered business names; also note the use of Toonga Bay self-deprecatingly by residents
• Town - Used by Melburnians to refer to the central business district of Melbourne, Victoria
• Traf - Trafalgar, Victoria
• Trags - Traralgon, Victoria
• Trashmont - Ashmont, New South Wales
• Trono - Toronto, New South Wales
• Top End (The) - the far north of Australia - usually within the bounds of Northern Territory
• Torks - Torquay, Victoria
• Tuggers - Tuggeranong, Australian Capital Territory
• (The) Tulla - Tullamarine, Victoria, including Tullamarine Freeway
• Upper Gully - Upper Ferntree Gully, Victoria
• Vic Park - Victoria Park, Western Australia
• Wagga – Wagga Wagga, New South Wales (pronounced /ˈwɔɡ.ə/)
• Wang - Wangaratta, Victoria
• Watsy - Watsonia, Victoria
• Wavo - Waverley Park, former AFL venue in Mulgrave, Victoria
• Wazza - Warrandyte, Victoria
• Wello - Wellington, New South Wales
• Wenty – Wentworthville, New South Wales Also:Wentworth Falls, New South Wales
• West Auckland - Bondi, New South Wales due to the large number of New Zealanders in residence.
• West Penno – West Pennant Hills, New South Wales
• Whaley – Whale Beach, New South Wales
• Whitto or Shittington – Whittington, Victoria
• Willy – Williamstown, Victoria
• Winch - Winchelsea, Victoria
• Winsto - Winston Hills, New South Wales
• Woopi - Woolgoolga, New South Wales

Sporting Teams

Despite sporting teams in Australia possessing nicknames, many people use colloquial names for them nonetheless, especially when cheering them on from the grandstands. The names listed below are typically unofficial nicknames.

General

• Victoria - the Vics

AFL

• Carlton Blues - the Bluebaggers, Caaaarlton (imitating former president John Elliott's drawl)
• Collingwood Magpies - the Pies, the Woods, the Maggies, the Cold/Hot Pies
• Essendon Bombers - the Dons
• Fitzroy Lions - the Roys
• Fremantle Dockers - The Dockers, the Shockers, Flagmantle
• Geelong Cats - the Catters, the Handbaggers
• Hawthorn Hawks - the Hawkers, the Poos and Wees
• The Kangaroos - North, the Roos, the Kangas, the Shinboners
• Melbourne Demons - the Dees, the Redlegs
• Port Adelaide Power - Port
• Richmond Tigers - Tiges, The Mighty Tigers
• St Kilda Saints - the Sainters, the Saints
• Sydney (South Melbourne) Swans - the Swannies, the Swanners, South, the Bloods
• University Scholars - Uni
• West Coast Eagles - the Weagles, the WC Eagles
• Western (Footscray) Bulldogs - the Dogs, the Doggies, the Bullies, the Scray, the Scraggers

VFL

• Box Hill - the Hills
• Coburg - the Burgers
• Springvale - the Vales
• Werribee - the Bees
• Williamstown- Willy, Towners

Cricket

• Australia A - the A's (A second first-class team which was created)
• West Indies - the Windies

NRL

• Canterbury Bulldogs - the Dogs, the Doggies.
• Eastern Suburbs/Sydney Roosters - Easts, the Rooters.
• Parramatta Eels - Parra, the Snakes, the Slime.
• South Sydney Rabbitohs - Souths, the Bunnies, Armani Army.
• St George/Illawarra Dragons - the Saints, the Dragqueens, St Merge, St Choke.
• Penrith Panthers - the Penny Panthers, Penriff.
• Brisbane Broncos - the Bronks, the Boncos.
• North Queesland Cowboys - the Cowgirls.
• Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles - Manly, the Silvertails.
• Wests Tigers - the Tiges, the Tiggers, the Tigpies.
• Cronulla Sharks - the Guppies, the 40 Year Old Virgins
• Canberra Raiders - the Green Machine, the Faders.
• Melbourne Storm - the Mexicans.

NBL

• Adelaide 36ers - the Sixers. Named because South Australia was founded in 1836. Also inspired by the Philadelphia 76ers
• Townsville Crocodiles - the Crocs
• West Sydney Razorbacks - the Pigs

Soccer

• National Team - the Socceroos, the Roos
• Olympic Team - the Olyroos
• Womans National Team - the Matildas
• National under 16 Team - the Joeys
• Sydney FC - the Sky Blues, Bling FC, FC
• Melbourne Victory FC - the Victory, the Big V, the Vics, the Tards
• Adelaide United FC - the Reds, United, the Commies
• Queensland Roar FC - the Roar, the Pussycats, Meow
• Perth Glory FC - the Glory
• Central Coast Mariners FC - the Mariners, the Fishermen, the Coast
• Newcastle Jets FC - the Jets

See also

• Australian English
• Australian English vocabulary